Floating life reflects two lotuses

In the laboratory, Chu Wanlian stared intently at the screen in front of her, the data streaming down like a waterfall. She pressed the pause button, her fingertips tapping the table, her brow furrowed. The experimental data seemed to piece together a larger picture; the frequency of the rune fluctuations was exactly the same as the characteristics of the last energy burst, and even—Chu Wanlian took a deep breath—there seemed to be an additional, hidden resonance mode.

“This resonance…” she murmured, a hint of confusion and tension flashing in her eyes.

Suddenly, Xiao Jinlian's voice echoed in her mind: "Princess, the way these runes are arranged seems to be very similar to a certain part of the murals in the Taoist temple."

Chu Wanlian paused for a moment, then recalled the details of the mural she had perceived from Xiao Jinlian's memories during their last soul-to-soul exchange. She quickly opened her notebook and placed the images side by side. Sure enough, the arrangement of the runes perfectly overlapped, like mirror images.

"This is no coincidence." Chu Wanlian stared at the screen, her voice unconsciously rising.

“Of course not.” Xiao Jinlian’s voice carried a hint of calm and certainty. “Princess, the intensity of this rune resonance is not just an energy fluctuation; it may also be some kind of connection channel. The two of us—are part of this channel.”

Chu Wanlian's pupils contracted slightly; she realized what this might mean. She quickly switched the view, attempting to simulate higher-frequency rune fluctuations and to fully arrange and reconstruct the data.

"What are you doing?" Xiao Jinlian's voice was full of vigilance. "Won't this frequency pose any danger to us... or rather, to our bodies?"

“There’s no time to worry about that.” Chu Wanlian quickly adjusted the simulation parameters, and the fluctuations on the screen gradually stabilized. “We must find out the truth, we must know what this channel connects to—and why the two of us got involved.”

The screen suddenly began to fluctuate violently, accompanied by a low hum, and the lights in the entire laboratory flickered on and off. Chu Wanlian froze for a moment, then quickly pressed the emergency stop button, but it was too late.

A familiar energy surge swept over her, and Chu Wanlian's vision went black. When she opened her eyes again, she saw—

Xiao Jinlian stood deep within the imperial mausoleum, holding a fragment of a rune that gleamed with a dark light in her hand. The rune array she had just deciphered emitted a faint glow, and a mysterious and oppressive power permeated the air.

"Princess, are you alright?" Silan asked softly, her eyes filled with worry.

Xiao Jinlian waved her hand: "It's nothing. It's just that the energy of this rune... is too powerful. I need more time."

Li Heng stood not far away, vigilantly observing his surroundings. He gripped his sword, his voice low and firm: "We must leave quickly. This place is too dangerous; Consort Yan's men could catch up at any moment."

“Wait a moment.” Xiao Jinlian’s gaze was fixed on the rune fragments, her brows furrowed slightly. “These runes seem to contain some kind of information. I need to decipher it.”

Just as she was about to investigate further, the rune fragment in her hand suddenly vibrated, emitting a blinding light. The intense energy fluctuation caught Xiao Jinlian off guard; her body trembled violently, and her consciousness was swept into an unfamiliar space like a tidal wave.

Chu Wanlian's vision blurred, and everything around her gradually became both familiar and strange. Beneath her feet was no longer the cold floor of the laboratory, but a pavement paved with bluestone. Ancient pillars and dim lights came into view in the distance, and her heart suddenly raced.

"This is... an imperial tomb?" she murmured, her voice filled with disbelief.

Almost simultaneously, Xiao Jinlian's consciousness was pulled into a completely different environment. Before her were cold, white lights and countless flashing instruments. She froze for a moment, then her eyes widened: "This is... Chu Wanlian's world?"

The two turned around one after the other and saw each other in each other's line of sight.

"You..." The two spoke at the same time, their voices full of surprise.

After a brief silence, Xiao Jinlian was the first to react: "Princess, what are you doing here?"

"That's what I should be asking you!" Chu Wanlian frowned. "Where are we?"

“This should be the result of rune resonance,” Xiao Jinlian said slowly, her gaze falling on Chu Wanlian, her voice lowering slightly, “It seems that our souls… are connected once again.”

"What does this mean?" Chu Wanlian asked tentatively.

Xiao Jinlian pondered for a moment, her expression gradually becoming solemn: "This means that the connection between our souls is directly related to the power of these runes. In other words, our fates have already been locked by the runes."

"Locked up?" Chu Wanlian's tone carried a hint of unease. "Then what should we do? If this continues, who knows if there will be even greater danger?"

Xiao Jinlian nodded: "I don't know either. But at least now, we know one thing—whether it's the ancient spirit offering secret site or the laboratory you're in, all of this is closely related to runes."

After a moment of silence, their gazes simultaneously turned to the distant runic light. That light seemed to be whispering some unspeakable secret, drawing them step by step into the unknown abyss.

Chu Wanlian's consciousness snapped back to the laboratory, and the surrounding lights returned to normal, but her heart remained restless for a long time.

"What... happened just now?" she murmured to herself, Xiao Jinlian's voice still echoing in her mind.

“Princess, I think we are close to the truth.” Xiao Jinlian’s voice rang out again, her tone calm. “Next, we must speed things up. Neither the Spirit Offering Secret Ground nor the laboratory will give us much time.”

Chu Wanlian nodded, her gaze becoming even more determined: "That's right, no matter what, I must find the answer."

She quickly organized the experimental data, recording the details of the rune resonance. This time, her hand did not hesitate, because she knew that this was not only the key to unlocking the mystery of the runes, but also their only hope of returning to their respective timelines.

This chapter focuses on the two characters' deepening understanding of runes and their brief resonance of souls, showcasing the connection between the two storylines and the intertwining of their destinies. It also lays the groundwork for later plot developments, enhancing the overall tension and appeal.